Those were the highest number of annual closures since 2020, when there were 9,698. Store openings, meanwhile, were predicted to fall to 5,800 from 5,970 in 2025.

Iceland, which is rivalled by Aldi, Lidl and more, pulled down the shutters permanently on its site in Welling at the start of the year, as the closures began.

Iceland, with a network of over 900 stores across the UK, has yet to disclose the reasons behind its recent spate of closures. The supermarket chain has shuttered several outlets in recent months ...